Michael K. Rich

Wesley Hand had grown accustomedto sitting on the beach drinking beerand watching the sunset near hishome on the U.S. Virgin Islands.

It was a place that was bothbeautiful to the eye and a joy tolive; it was a place he said he couldspend the rest of life.

Yet his heart rested elsewhere,nestled away in a small 1.2 squaremile city with crime rates morethan triple that of the tropical para-dise where he was living.

His heart lived in South Tucson.So when then former South

Tucson Police officre got a callfrom South Tucson ManagerEnrique Serna asking him to returnto the force, it wasn’t a difficultdecision.

“I told him yes,” Hand said.Serna called on Hand back to

the department to clean up the messcaused by a scandal involving dis-missed South Tucson Police Lt.Richard Garcia.

In May 2008, agents from theFBI and the Internal RevenueService raided police headquartersand seized numerous financial andother documents related to Garciaand steaming from allegations theSouth Tucson Police officer stolemore than $300,000 during a sever-al year time span.

Garcia, who had worked for thedepartment since 1995 and madethe climb from officer, to sergeantand then lieutenant would be firedone month later.

The alleged embezzlement offunds had been going on in the

department since early 2002, whena reorganization of the departmentleft an administrative void.

“I would say that $300,000 is apretty conservative number,” Sernasaid.

An internal investigation con-ducted by the city found Garciagained access to the money throughhis good standing in the departmentand a lack of checks and balancesplaced on the tracking of evidenceand sales of repossessed cars.

At the time of Garcia’s employ-ment with the city, the policy on thesale of repossessed cars was sim-ple. The cars would be taken to alocal auctioneer who sold the carsand cut a check to the policedepartment.

It is these checks that Garciaallegedly stole from the department.

However, officials at the depart-ment never keep track of the numberof cars sold or how much they soldthem for, so it is difficult to deter-mine how much money is missing.

“We had a glaring hole inadministration,” Serna said.

It was not just the sales of carsGarcia had free reign to at the timeof his employment, he was alsoable to go into the evidence roomand remove property and cash withno questions asked, said SharonHayes-Martinez Chief of the SouthTucson Police Department.

“We had no safe guards,”Hayes-Martinez said.

To implement a system ofchecks and balances in the depart-ment, Serna brought back two for-mer South Tucson Police officers,appointed a current officer to the

position of assistant chief andformed a leadership team withinthe police department.

“With these new positions wewill be able to hold people account-able and change our policies to pre-vent future issues,” Hayes-Martinezsaid.

The first officer Serna broughtback was Hand who served withthe South Tucson PoliceDepartment from 1972 until 1993.After he worked in law enforce-ment in Texas for eight years heeventually secured a position work-ing for the U.S. attorney’s office inthe U.S. Virgin Islands.

Once he returned to the depart-ment, Hand was put in charge ofimmediately correcting the lack ofoversights that Garcia exploited.Hand turned over the handling offinancial transactions, such as sell-ing cars to city administration.

“The police department shouldnever of been handling the moneyfrom the sales of these cars,” he said.

The police department investednearly $12,000 into a new trackingsystem for the evidence room.

The system that Hand institutedin the evidence room includessecurity cameras, an electronic logof all the evidence that tracks whois checking items in and out, andsecurity card access so that thoseentering and leaving the room canbe monitored.

“These are some glaring issuesthat needed to be addressed,” Handsaid.

Since he tackled these prob-lems, Hand has seen other issuesthat need to be addressed in thedepartment. “We have officersworking too many hours and weneed a major update on our policies

By Claire Conrad

José Villalobos has worked alarge corner curio shop inNogales, Sonora, for 25years. For the past two, thenumber of American touristscoming in to buy trinketslike baskets and bright, col-orful flowers has dropped.The store was largely emptyon a recent Saturday after-noon.

“This is the worst year,”Villalobos said in Spanish.“People are staying in theU.S.”

Villalobos is not the onlymerchant in Nogales seeinga marked decreased in trafficfrom U.S. customers.

Zaira Acuña, who worksat Dental Casablanca inNogales, has seen a drasticdrop in the number of clientscoming to Nogales for den-tal work. On the afternoon ofSaturday, Nov. 29, the den-tist office was empty exceptfor Acuña.

The bilingual dentistoffice, which caters mainlyto American clients, had asmany as eight or 10 appoint-ments each day just a fewmonths ago. Now there are

only two or three per day,Acuña shrugged.

“There’s no work,”Acuña said in Spanish.“They aren’t coming any-more.”

For those who cater toUnited States visitors, such

as merchants, dentists andpharmacy workers, there hasbeen a drastic reduction inbusiness in recent months.

Many in Nogales blamethe twin forces of a slowU.S. economy and the recentreports of a surge in drug

violence in Mexico for thedrastic drop in commerce inthe city.

Drug violence inMexico, particularly in theborder-states, has madeheadlines in the U.S. asbrazen murders and execu-

tions have surged in recentyears.

There were 6,285 drug-related deaths in Mexicofrom Jan. 1, 2007 to Oct. 31,2008, according to data

December 12 / 12 diciembre 2008Free/gratis South Tucson’s Bilingual Newspaper

1976 ~ 32 Years of Service ~ 2008EL

INDEPENDIENTEYouth Keeping Beatwith Community Even kids “on receivingend” are helping out.

INSIDE

No habrá nacimientoen casa cordovaeste añoComo otra opción, visite elmuseo.

...see page 7

...vea la página 2‘Mexico’/see page 6

‘Police’/see page 6

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Violence Halts Shoppers at Border

Former Cops to Clean up CorruptionBy Tanya Radisavljevic

While battling for the deals onblack Friday, pacing up and downthe aisles for the blue light savings,and staring at the red lights on thecommute home it is important tofocus on the most important colorthis season: green.

At a time when the economy is,say, slightly short of perfect, it isimportant to stay green during thisholiday season.

And who would argue against agreener Christmas?

According to the U.SEnvironmental Protection Agency,the average person uses approxi-mately one 100-foot-tall Douglasfir tree in paper and wood productsper year.

In an effort to try and decreasethis number, the following are afew colorful tips to keep in mindduring this holiday season.Brown. Take reusable or recycledbags to the store. Keep bags in thecar or by the front door and grabthem on your way out. Using recy-cled bags instead of new bags cre-ated with new paper generates 74percent less air pollution and uses50 percent less water, according toEPA. Gold. After the presents have beenopened and the New Year haspassed don’t throw the tree in thegarbage, plant it! Make sure to buya tree with remaining roots. Notonly are you adding green to theplanet but you’re keeping the arti-ficial non-biodegradable plastics

I’m Dreaming ofa Green Xmas?

Richard Vidaurri, left, and Wesley Hand were both called in to clean up theSouth Tucson Police Department.

‘Green’/see page 6

State and national totals of cartel-related slayings in Mexico (‘ejecuciones” and “narcoejecuciones”) from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 3008.Obtained from data provided by Reforma newspaper.

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Page / Página 2 December 12 / 12 de diciembre 2008EL INDEPENDIENTE

EL

INDEPENDIENTESouth Tucson’s Bilingual Newspaper

El Independiente encourages letters from all its readers, but reserves theright to edit correspondence for grammar, style, clarity and length.

UA Journalism P.O. Box 210158BTucson, AZ 85721Phone: 621-3618

elindy.ua@gmail.com

AdviserMaggy Zanger

Graphics and Layout AdviserJohn deDios

PhotographersColleen Keefe

Gerald R. Zimmer IIIAshley Villarreal

Tanya RadisavljevicTess Martinez

DesignMatthew Garcia

Summer Watterson

ReportersElena Cruz

Colleen KeefeTess MartinezJenny MayerDana Pfeiffer

Tanya RadisavljevicMike Rich

David RodriguezLeila Abu-Saada

Summer WattersonAri Wasserman

TranslatorsAlejandra TorresNabil Hourieh

Anders T. Petersonernesto amaya

Translation and Interpretation Department of Spanish and Portuguese and

Mexican American Studies

Managing EditorAri Wasserman

News EditorClaire Conrad

Spanish EditorAshley Villarreal

Design Chief Tess Martinez

Photo EditorJenny Mayer

Community Events EditorTanya Radisavljevic

News Room ManagerDavid Rodriguez

Copy ChiefLeila Abu-Saada

Copy EditorsDana PfeifferColleen Keefe

Gerald R. Zimmer III

By Elena Cruz

A week of honoring Our Lady ofGuadalupe will end with a festivalat St. Augustine Cathedral indowntown Tucson on SaturdayDecember 13.

“The bishop wants to do a clos-ing to the end of the week long cel-ebration of Our Lady to enhancethe important message of family,”said Celia Roman of the DiocesanHispanic Pastoral Commission.

The celebration will also bringtogether parishes from more thannine countries, 75 in total. A masson Dec.12 for Our Lady will beginwith a procession led by the oldestchurch in Tucson. The Saturdayevent will feature Aztec and Yaquidance performances.

The event is free to everyone,and begins at 10:30 a.m. Festivitieswill continue outside St. AugustineCathedral, 192 S. Stone Ave., andwill end at 4 p.m.

For more information call CeliaRoman at 326-4744.

By Tess Martinez

After months of financial struggleand uncertainty, the House ofNeighborly Service, a SouthTucson agency that has been takingcare of the community for over 60years, will likely be handed over toOur Family Services, a nonprofitorganization that provides parent-ing classes, counseling and runsSkrappy’s, a downtown youth cen-ter, among other resources in thecommunity.

“It’s good news,” said RichardKampa, a board member of HNS.“We think we’ve found a goodpartner to keep us open and run-ning for a long time.”

The HNS board and Our Familyare still working out the details oftransferring the services under thenew organization’s wing. A managerfrom Our Family Services is alreadyon site at the House of NeighborlyServices at 243 W. 33rd St.

The House of NeighborlyServices was forced to shut downfor what was hoped to be only amonth in September in an attemptto recuperate a $50,000 budgetshortfall. Despite the official sus-pension of services, some pro-grams continued to operate out oftheir own inertia, including a dou-ble-dutch program, senior services,tattoo removal and computer litera-cy classes.

Though the transfer is not yetset in stone, Kampa said he hopesthe House of Neighborly Servicewill be running under the manage-ment of Our Family sometimeearly next year.

At 115 Pounds, Islas Leads Pueblo Wrestling

One Week of Prayer:Friends Gather to HonorVirgin of Guadalupe

By Ari Wasserman

Walking around the campus ofPueblo High School, Abraham Islasdoesn’t look like an athlete.However, Islas, who weighs all of115 pounds and stands 5-foot-7 ifhe is lucky, could in fact be themost important athlete at Pueblo.

He often finds himself defend-ing his size to naysayers who don’tbelieve he is an athlete.

“When I tell people I wrestlethey don’t believe me because I amsmall,” said Islas, who is the capt-ian of the wrestling team. “Mostpeople think I am too small towrestle.”

The senior is a returning statechampion from last season, bothindividually and as part of theWarriors squad, who won the statetitle for the first time since 1992.

What makes Islas important isthe successes he brings to a schoolthat has certainly found itself downin other athletics.

This season, Islas returns toPueblo after they lost six seniorsfrom last year’s squad. He returnsnot only as a leader but a captainwho will play an integral role in theteam’s success if they want torepeat as state champions.

“He is a tremendous leader, he’sgot great skill. He’s a great teacher,and he shows the kids a lot,” saidHead Coach Steve Lopez. “He iswell versed in everything and I cancount on him to help with anythingI ask him to do. He never com-plains and whatever I ask him todo, he does, and he just sets the

example for the other kids.” Lopez has been the coach at

Pueblo for over 15 years, butadmits that despite his experienceand the success he has enjoyed overthe years, he has become a littleinsecure about the future.

He said he occasionally can’tsleep at night wondering what willbe when Islas moves on.

“I am already thinking, ‘Whatabout next year?’ ” Lopez said. “Itis going to be hard (without Islas).Hopefully somebody will step upnext year like he did this year.”

In terms of Islas’ future, both heand Lopez are confident collegiatewrestling will be apart of his plans.The one issue, however, is the lowestweight class in collegiate wrestlingstarts at 125 pounds, about eightmore than Islas weighs now.

While gaining weight can bedifficult, the wrestler remains con-fident that he will be able toachieve his goals of competing atthe next level.

“I have speed and good formand that is what works,” Islas said.“To [wrestle] in college I need tostart gaining more weight so I canwrestle at 125 and keep my gradesup and wrestle hard.”

Lopez believes it is an attainablegoal.

“I think mentally, most definite-ly,” Lopez said of Islas’ capabilitiesof wrestling in college. “The detri-ment that he might have is size…But if he could put on some muscleand maybe get a little bigger, hemost definitely has the skill capac-ity. It is just whether or not he will

have the physical capacity.” Interaction between Islas and

his teammates could conceivablybe strained, given wrestling’saggressive nature, but the rest ofthe squad looks up to the senior.

At the beginning of the seasonthe team voted on captains by writ-ing a name on a sliver of paper andgiving it to Lopez. All but a few

wrote down Islas’ name. “Skill-wise he is the best one we

got. He is smooth in what he does,and he is always training hard andhe never slacks off,” said teammateArnoldo Gutierrez, who wrestles inthe 140-weight class.

His mentality he has, he doesn’tcare about size. During the summerin tournaments, kids his size

wouldn’t want to wrestle him, so hewould bump up two or three class-es and still win.”

As far as taking down the biggerkids on his team?

“Yeah, I can take them,” Islassaid with a smile.

Count on him taking them onhis back and into the postseason.

As a Memberof Our Family,Services WillContinue

Pueblo High wrestler Abraham Islas throws teammate Trevin Nesbitt in a head lock during warm-ups for the teamsmatch against Cholla High School on Thursday, Dec. 4.

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Friends from St. Ambrose Church gather at Delia Ochoa’s house to begin theCatholic tradition of novenas by praying together.

Page / Página 3December 12 / 12 de diciembre 2008 EL INDEPENDIENTE

By Summer Watterson

Juniors and seniors at SunnysideHigh School have the opportunityto earn money and credits for learn-ing how to find health informationthat may help their families andpeers.

Wellness Education Search, aUniversity of Arizona School ofInformation Resources and LibrarySciences program, pairs Sunnysidestudents with UA graduate studentsto educate teens on the best ways tofind health information on issuesthey are facing, such as acne, dia-betes, Human Papilloma Virus andits vaccination.

Annabelle Núñez, WE Searchco-adviser and assistant librarian atthe Arizona Health ServicesLibrary, says WE Search studentswork on different projects andactivities, including field trips todifferent libraries in the communityand digital stories about healthissues, which she says they arehoping to post online.

Núñez says the goal of the pro-gram, which is in its third year atSunnyside, is for students to raisehealth awareness in their communi-ties and become “health advisers”to their friends and families, whileexposing the teens to higher educa-tion. As a UA program, Núñezsays, the long-term goal is to intro-duce students to the world of med-ical librarians.

Students can participate in theweek long WE Search Institutewhich takes place in July.

WE Search provides transporta-tion to the UA Health SciencesLibrary and other locations wherestudents will work on producing a

Power Point to present to theirpeers and family.

Students also have the opportu-nity to participate in WE Searchover an entire semester, where theywork on digital stories and otherpresentations and have the opportu-nity to earn up to $1,000 andsemester credit for a full class.

The money is given in incre-ments over the semester as studentsmeet their goals and responsibili-ties.

Núñez says the mentors guidethe students and keep them on trackso they can make the full $1,000.

Núñez says a lot of students joinbecause they have the opportunityto be paid, but once the programbegins they start becoming interest-ed in everything they are learning.

“They start to feel good thatthey can help their friends and fam-ily,” she says.

WE Search will start recruitingfor the summer program thisspring, but students who seek moreinformation can call Núñez at 626-7508 or see the career center at thehigh school.

The process of entering the pro-gram involves an application, ori-entation and permission slips fromparents.

Núñez says any student canjoin, but the program primarily tar-gets Hispanic and American Indianstudents.

The graduate students are partof SIRLS Knowledge RiverProgram which seeks to teach grad-uate students about Hispanic andAmerican Indian needs in thelibrary system.

Jana Bradley, director ofSIRLS, says WE Search givesKnowledge River students realexperience in the community.

“It’s really preparing them forwhat they are going to do,” shesays.

Knowledge River students alsoreceive money for school on a UAassistantship for participating inWE Search.

By David Rodriguez

Local non-profit organizations havejumped in to help Tucsonans caughtin the economic meltdown. Butsome have become overwhelmed bythe demand for services and havehad to cut back- one such organiza-tion is Primavera Works.

The nonprofit, which is a com-prehensive job placement programfor homeless and “near-homeless”people, has stopped accepting newclients because there are few jobsthese days to pair with the increas-ing number of job seekers. Theyhave had to turn away as many as

80 people a week, simply unable tooffer them even hope of work.

“We’re still committed to help-ing the homeless, and will do thebest we can in helping them,” saidto Reneé Bibby, marketing coordi-nator with Primavera. “It’s tough todo that at the moment.”

However, people in Primavera’sshelters will still be able to partici-pate in the program in which casemanagers work one-on-one withclients to find suitable jobs. Morethan 200 people are on a waitinglist to receive services when theprogram restarts.

“It is a big waiting list, and we’rehoping that it’s not long term,” saidKaren Caldwell, director of work-force development at Primavera.

With the economy in recession,few companies are hiring. Whilethe organization does place someworkers in temporary jobs, its ulti-mate goal is to find permanent

placement for its clients. Primavera Works not only finds

jobs for those in the program, theorganization supports them withtransportation, food, water andsafety items, if needed.

Workshops are also available tobuild job skills and develop resumes.

Caldwell said she does not knowhow long Primavera Works will beunable to accept new clients.

They will evaluate the issue on amonth-to-month basis.

Meanwhile, the organization isdoing its best to drum up jobs forits clients by working its contactsand supporters, and marketing itsprogram with public serviceannouncements on local television.

The need to cut the program hasimpacted not only clients, but thePrimavera Works staff, said Caldwell.

“It’s overwhelming to many ofthe staff because we’ve never hadto turn anyone away.”

EconomyAffecting Non-profits

WE Search Health IssuesPor Jenny Mayer

Traducido por Nabil Hourieh

Por primera vez en 30 años no se exhibirá elnacimiento en La Casa Cordova esta temporadanavideña por atrasos en la construcción.

Maria Luisa Tena, creadora de “ElNacimiento”, diseñó la escena como homenaje a latradición que creó su madre, quien traía y exhibíanacimientos durante las navidades.

El Nacimiento presenta diferentes escenas quecuentan historias navideñas y también hacen refer-encia a la vida folclórica mexicana.

Tena ha recopilado 800 figuras en mercados deMéxico durante los últimos 30 años.

“No es que no queramos alojar ‘El Nacimiento’,pero la construcción se ha retrasado más de lo queanticipamos”, dice Meredith Hayes, directora demercadatencia y relaciones públicas del Museo de

Arte de Tucsón (Tucson Museum of Art). “En real-idad la estamos mejorando, la casa será histórica,mejor para el año que viene y para la gente”.

La Casa Cordova se está renovando para hacer-la más accesible a personas con discapacidades,para mejorar el sistema de electricidad y hacer laescena más históricamente fiel.

Hayes dice que Tena y ella esperan que “ElNacimiento” estará listo para exhibirse de nuevo elpróximo año.

En lugar de “El Nacimiento”, el Museo de Artede Tucsón exhibirá “Following the Star:Celebrating the Nativity/La Estrella delNacimiento”.

Es una exhibición de nacimientos creados porartistas de México y Perú y pueden verse en elPalice Pavilion of Latin American Art en la casahistórica Stevens/Duffield House, 140 N. MainAve., hasta el 22 de marzo.

La construcción pone un alto al Nacimiento

Una de las escenas de los hacimientos que se exhibirán en el Tucson Museum of Art hasta el 22 de marzo.

Students LearnWhere to FindHealth Info

Primavera Works at Capacity

Several workers within the Primavera Works program help clean up local parks around Tucson. Primavera Works helpsfind temporary jobs for homeless or low income families looking to make ends meet.

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Annie Smith, a mentor with WE Search, helps Sunnyside High School seniorDavid Marin create a website for future students in the computer lab.

El Independiente now

online atelindenews.com

Page / Página 4 December 12 / 12 de diciembre 2008EL INDEPENDIENTE

By Matthew Garcia

In the back space of a parking lot onTucson’s south side, a class of around 20grade school students line up as they preparefor physical education on a small, asphaltfield outside of the Arizona Academy ofLeadership.

“Are you ready Emilio?” asks teacherRandiesia Riggs. “On your mark, get set, go.”

Three young boys dart out to a bunch ofhula-hoops, the first of four obstacles. Theythrow them around their waists and starttwisting their bodies.

A few turns later Riggs is running theobstacle course herself. “Don’t give upReyes, don’t give up, Reyes, don’t give up!”she yells as she follows a boy with a sunkenface and droopy arms in disappointmentatbeing in last place.

She calls out the students who hid in theback of the lines, hoping they would beskipped, and passes them some words ofencouragement as she puts them up front forthe next run.

“What does my t-shirt say?” Riggs asks.“I can do all things,” the students mumble. Riggs has made it her life goal to help her

students and many others understand andembrace these five words.

Riggs, 31, is the founder of the non-profitorganization I Can Do All Things, whoseobjective is nothing short of revolutionizingsocial services for the minority community byteaching people that they don’t have to be poor.

A Ph.D. candidate and 12-year MarineCorps retiree, Riggs has overcome incredibleodds in her life that influenced her to teachothers that no matter how bad their situationis, they can succeed.

Riggs was born in Los Angeles, Calif.,and raised by her mother and stepfather. Herfamily became homeless when she was sevenyears old.

During the next seven years, life in hotelson skid row in downtown L.A. was anythingbut encouraging.

“I saw people get pushed out of windows,people get killed, my mom and dad would bemissing for weeks,” she says.

Her mother would often spend the rentmoney on drugs, putting Randiesia and hertwo brothers out on the streets carryingbrown garbage bags with a few clothes andblankets.

Riggs would often spend her time alone atschool, in the library or running track- any-thing to avoid the drugs at home, the ganglife that her brothers were influenced by orthe metal chairs that her mother would swingacross her face when she was coming downfrom a high.

With no mentor or guidance, Riggs over-came a suicide attempt and managed tomaintain a 4.0 cumulative grade point aver-age and graduate from a magnet high schoolwith honors. However, none of it seemed tomatter because she never imagined that shecould live any other lifestyle than poverty.

After high school, Riggs took up a job atBurger King.

“People would drive through the drivethrough and ask me…‘what am I doinghere’?” she says.

Throughout childhood nobody ever toldher that she could go to college or that she did-n’t have to accept being poor, she says.

Riggs transformed this idea into ICDAT’smain program which is geared toward 16 to

24 year olds. Still in development, the pro-gram will remove impoverished or troubledyouth from their home environment, placethem in transitional housing and provide thema peaceful place to eat and sleep while chang-ing their perceptions about financial stabilityand success. It will also teach them survivalskills, and most of all, assist them with thetransition into college.

“Instead of thinking poorly, remove themfrom the generational poverty they come fromand teach them something new,” Riggs says.

While teaching at APEX, a school nearthe airport, students would tell her that theywanted to be a pharmacist’s technician. Theydidn’t know that they could be the pharma-cist, she says.

“She’s the reason why I’m in college rightnow,” says 18-year-old Jessica Bennett, anassistant of Riggs with ICDAT.

After working at Burger King, Riggs decid-ed that she was getting out of poverty andenlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

Having faced some of the toughest chal-lenges in her life, Riggs was ready to takeon anything. She passed boot camp withease, but would soon be confronted with sit-uations that she never anticipated. Rapedtwice in the Marines, Riggs says she alsofaced unbelievable discrimination as anAfrican-American female.

“She is a very aggressive, outgoing younglady,” says Wanda Reed, a close friend whoconsiders Riggs a daughter. “She has no fear.”

Never reporting the rapes because shedidn’t want to be black listed, Riggs had agoal to make it to the top in the Marines andbecome an officer. Taking advantage of heroptions, Riggs attended the U of A whileundergoing extensive training at FortHuachuca.

After 12 years of service and passing offi-cer candidate school despite a 40-foot fallonto her neck, that she recovered from, Riggssnapped after years of over-the-top discrimi-nation and checked herself into a mentalhealth hospital, she says.

“I was so irritated…the fact that some-one treats me like I’m less than somebody,”she says.

Ending her career in the Marine Corps,Riggs decided to go back to college and fin-ished a masters degree in 2006.

Ready to redirect her energy, Riggs took ajob as a teacher at APEX.

Many students would come to school highor pregnant, and some wouldn’t come at allbecause they were in jail, Riggs says.

Not long after, her enthusiasm slowlydeteriorated and she became discouraged andstressed out in her attempt to make a differ-ence.

“I was sorting clothes one day and I waslike, I can’t do this anymore,” Riggs says.

At that moment a vision came over Riggs,giving her willpower and an image of ICDAT.

Today, she is the wife and mother of twoboys. Riggs teaches art and P.E. at theAcademy of Leadership twice a week.However, she is looking to end her job soonin order to focus more of her time on ICDAT,which she currently spends an unpaid 60 to70 hours per week leading. Finding directionin religion, Riggs is also active in her church.She does bible studies as well as outreachwith her ministry. Riggs also teaches an exer-cise class and performs religious dancingwith a group of young women. To top it off,she is on her way to obtaining a Ph.D. in

organizational management. “If you’re not pushed to do something then

you’re not going to ever go beyond what youknow,” Riggs says. “I truly believe that I cando all things. I believe that whole heartedly.”

When Riggs applied this effort to ICDAT,its goals and achievements became unstop-pable. Last summer ICDAT served more that9,000 meals to Tucsonans.

This year, ICDAT, along with the AgapeChristian Community Church, providedThanksgiving meals for the families of thePrimavera apartments. Apart from the count-less events that are intermingled in ICDAT,Riggs is looking to develop and focus moreon its three main programs: the Transition toCollege, Sister Circle and Fathers BeingFathers.

“She’s a good role model,” says SueKiley White, deputy director of the Y.E.S.Network that Riggs is a partner with. “Shedoesn’t want to see other people go throughwhat she went through.”

In Riggs’ Midvale home on Tucson’ssouthwest side, more than 20 women of allages gather at four tables laden with cookiesupplies. The lesson for the day’s SisterCircle meeting is making gingerbreadwomen and understanding the correlationbetween looking good on the outside whilehaving ingredients on the inside that theywant to forget about.

The purpose of Sister Circle is to buildself esteem in women, as well as teach themabout public health, life skills and culturalpractices, says Riggs. In a receding economy,a mother can always sell some cookies if shehas to, she says.

Riggs is currently looking for a leader forthe Fathers Being Fathers program. It teach-es men that it is better to stay a parent thanleave their child.

The program teaches conflict resolutionand provides time for men to hang out with

other men while bringing their kids along,says Riggs.

The current challenge that Riggs faces isher attempt to expand ICDAT by purchasinga ranch on Tucson’s west side. It will housethe 16 to 24 year-old students and provide alarger meeting space for the other programs.

But the program has not gotten funding topay for the ranch and if it’s going to expand,it will need experienced volunteers to offertheir skills as teachers or leaders.

By the community helping ICDAT, it ishelping itself by improving individuals tobecome productive citizens and loweringcrime rates by taking troubled kids off thestreets, she says.

If ICDAT can get the funding, Riggswould like to open the ranch as early as 2009.

Although this larger goal remains close athand, Riggs achievements are evident in theinfluence that she has on others.

Reed is also looking for grants to openMs. Wanda’s House, a shelter for pregnantgirls.

Some people say that it’s Riggs personal-ity that draws you in.

“She makes you feel good about helping,”says Kiley White.

Jennifer Moss is one among many indi-viduals that Riggs influenced to continuehigher education.

“She knows how to bring out the best inyou,” says Moss.

Although Riggs looks back at her life andrecognizes her achievements, a sense ofaccomplishment would be in vain at thispoint in her life.

“I can’t say that I’m proud of myselfsometimes,” Riggs says. “I always feel like Ihaven’t done enough.”

However, it’s a mutual feeling as to justhow much Riggs can accomplish.

“What I’m seeing her do now is only thebeginning,” says Reed.

By Dana PfeifferThe 13th Annual Grand Christmas Party is looking for volunteers tohelp assemble bikes for deserving children this Christmas.

Seventeen youth groups, churches, schools and non-profit organi-zations have chosen 500 children to receive new bikes thanks to theprogram. A new bike and helmet, provided by Tucson MedicalCenter, as a $100 value.

Last year, the fundraiser exceeded their goal of $20,000 in fourhours and drew 250 volunteers.

The volunteers assembled the bikes in an hour and ten minutes. Chairman Jesse Lugo hopes this year will bring out as many

volunteers.

“We’ve never had a problem raising the money, but this year,with the economy, we’re hoping for the same as last,” Lugo said.“In these economic times, we understand if people can’t give buttheir time as volunteers would be greatly appreciated.”

Volunteers are needed Dec. 13 at the Latin American SocialClub, 437 E. 26th St., from 8 a.m. to noon.

The party where the children will be presented with their bikesand helmets will be held on Dec. 14 at the same location.

Checks for donation can be made out to Grand Christmas Partyand sent to P.O. Box 26363, Tucson, AZ., 85726. Lugo can bereached at 322-0714.

Randiesia Riggs meets for a Bible study and dance rehearsal at the Agape Christian CommunityChurch on Tucson’s south side.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW GARCIA

500 Kids to Recieve Bikes for Christmas

Leaving Poverty Behind Because She Can

El Independiente now

online atelindenews.com

Page / Página 5December 12 / 12 de diciembre 2008 EL INDEPENDIENTE

By Claire Conrad

With winter approaching, flushots are available to the Tucsoncommunity at several locationsthroughout town.

Flu shots are recommended forpeople aged 6 months to 19 yearsold, pregnant women, people 50years old or older, people withchronic medical conditions, peo-ple who live in long-term carefacilities such as nursing homes,and those who live with or carefor people who are at risk of con-tracting the flu, according to theCenters for Disease Control andPrevention.

Flu season in the United Statestypically peaks around January orFebruary. The season, however,can last from October into thespring season, according to theCDC.

No shortages of vaccines areanticipated this year, with manu-facturers predicting that anywherefrom 143 to 146 million doseswill be available, according to theCenters for Disease Control.

To find a flu vaccine location,go to www.flucliniclocator.org.

Flu vaccine locations at localgrocery stores can be found byvisiting www.mollen.com.

By Summer Watterson

“For Sale” and “Office Space forRent” signs hang in windows ofSouth Tucson storefronts wherebusinesses used to be. Some busi-nesses still have “Open” signsbeside locked doors.

Many open businesses arequiet and nearly void of cus-tomers.

Most stores, from smokeshops to boot shops, and fromappliance stores to restaurants arefeeling the economic problemsplaguing all of the United States.

Abelardo Frisby, general man-ager of Las Cazuelita’s MexicanRestaurant on East 22nd Street,says his sales are down at least 20percent compared to last year.

“We’ve just been hanging out,just trying to survive the econo-my,” he says.

As Joe Martinez, owner ofJC’s Tire and Wheel talks, hisglasses reflect the game of soli-taire from his computer screenand the sound of a virtual deck ofcards shuffling deflecting hisattention.

Martinez opened JC’s on SouthSixth Avenue a few months ago.He doesn’t have numbers fromlast year to compare with thisyear, but he says business hasbeen slow and he imagines every-one has felt the economicdownslide.

Pam Beach, co-owner ofBeach Furniture & Appliance onSouth Sixth Avenue, says theirsales aren’t down, but that thenumber of customers not payingtheir bills has gone up.

Beach says they have in-housefinancing and she doesn’t have todepend on banks for customercredit, but the decrease in collec-tions has caused them to have todownsize from 20 employees toseven.

Even South Tucson employeesare feeling the slump in business.

“I organize boots all day,” saysErika Gonzalez an employee atBotas El Mudo on South SixthAvenue, “or I clean or do some-thing.”

Gonzalez says the shop canstill get busy on the weekends, butduring weekdays she’s seen a fewdays without a single customerwalking in.

Walter Flores, an employee atPuff N’ Stuff Smoke Shop onSouth Sixth Avenue, says heworks overtime on a flat rate as a

favor to the owners because theeconomy is so bad.

He says the owners recentlyhad to move the shop from itsFourth Avenue location becausethey needed cheaper rent.

Flores says he spends his daystrying to give the best service tothe few customers who do comein, and when no one’s in the shophe says, “I pretty much look forsomething to do.”

Some businesses are hopefulthat the situation will get better asthe weather cools and Tucson’sbusy winter season nears.

Linda Baker, manager ofGuillermo’s Double L Restauranton South Fourth Avenue, saysbusiness slowed down during thesummer, but with winter comingit’s starting to pick up again.

Frisby of Cazuelitas says theirbusiness has been a little betterrecently, which he attributes tocheaper gas prices.

He says it also helps the wintermonths are here because therestaurant pays less for utilities inthe winter.

He has spent more money thisyear on publicity and is offering

more specials than usual.“We’re doing things we nor-

mally wouldn’t do,” he says, “try-ing to get people in the door.”

As South Tucson’s unemploy-ment rate rises to more than 16percent, one of the things businessowners and employees agree on isthat they have all seen more peo-ple coming in to apply for jobs butfew are hiring.

Beach and Baker both said theyhave seen a lot of people come intheir shops looking for work, butneither of them are hiring.

Botas el Mudo, located on South Sixth Anevue, is one of the South Tucson businesses feeeling the effects of the slump in the U.S. economy.

South Tucson Businesses Feeling Economic Pinch

Por Claire ConradTraducido por Nabil Hourieh

José Villalobos trabaja en una grantienda de curiosidades en Nogales,Sonora, desde hace 25 años. Lacantidad de turistas estadouniden-ses que vienen a comprar baratijas,como canastas y flores de coloresbrillantes, ha bajado en los últimosdos años. La tienda estaba casivacía la tarde de un sábadoreciente.

“Este es el peor año”, dijo el Sr.Villalobos en español. “La gente seestá quedando en los EE.UU”.

Villalobos no es el único comer-ciante en Nogales que observa unareducción marcada en la afluenciade clientes estadounidenses. ZairaAcuña, que trabaja en DentalCasablanca en Nogales, ha vistouna caída drástica en el número declientes que llegan a Nogales pararecibir cuidados de estética dental.Durante la tarde del sábado 29 denoviembre, el consultorio dentalestaba vacío, sin incluir a la señoraAcuña.

Este consultorio dental bilingüe,que atiende principalmente aclientes estadounidenses, tenía deocho a 10 citas diarias hace algunosmeses.

Ahora sólo hay dos o tres al día,dijo la señora Acuña, encogiéndosede hombros.

“No hay trabajo”, dijo la señoraAcuña en español. “Ya no vienen”.

Los comerciantes, dentistas, ytrabajadores de farmacias queatienden a visitantes de los EstadosUnidos han experimentado una

reducción drástica del volumen denegocio en meses recientes.

En Nogales, muchas personasatribuyen la reducción drástica alas fuerzas combinadas de la crisiseconómica estadounidense y lasrecientes noticias de un aumento enla violencia relacionada con lasdrogas en México.

La violencia en México que hasurgido en conexión con las drogas,particularmente en los estadosfronterizos, ha aparecido en los tit-ulares estadounidenses, por la olea-da de asesinatos y ejecuciones bru-tales de años recientes.

Según información recopiladapor Los Angeles Times, del 1 deenero de 2007 al 31 de octubre de2008 ocurrieron en México 6.285muertes relacionadas con las dro-gas. En Sonora, ocurrieron 244muertes relacionadas con las dro-gas durante el mismo periodo.

El gobierno mexicano tomamedidas en contra de los cartelespero la violencia ha aumentado , locual ha causado fragmentaciones yluchas por el poder entre los carte-les, dijo David Shirk, director delInstituto de Estudios Fronterizos(Trans-Border Institute) de laUniversidad de San Diego. Antes,la violencia sólo se producía entrelos carteles, pero ahora están ata-cando a agentes del gobierno y ciu-dadanos mexicanos.

“No es sólo entre los carteles,sino que también ha afectadomucho a los ciudadanos mexicanosordinarios, bien a los que se encon-traban allí casualmente o comoobjetivos de otros tipos de activi-

dades criminales, como secuestros”,dije Shirk. “Como los carteles sehan dividido en organizacionespequeñas, más fraccionadas ymenos previsibles, se han vuelto unpeligro para los ciudadanos ordi-narios”.

El Departamento de Estadoestadounidense publicó una alertade viaje el 14 de octubre para todoslos ciudadanos estadounidensesque viajen a México, advirtiéndosobre tiroteos en lugares públicoscomo centros comerciales y, especí-ficamente, advirtió que no se usarala Carretera 15 entre Nogales yHermosillo.

Pero las noticias sobre tiroteosen el centro de Nogales y la muertede Juan Manuel Pavón Félix, eljefe de policía del estado deSonora, el 2 de noviembre, se hanpublicado en los titulares de losmedios de comunicación en amboslados de la frontera.

La violencia relacionada con lasdrogas en México ha aumentado enaños recientes conforme el gobier-no mexicano comenzó a arrestar yextraditar a líderes de carteles,según un informe publicado enfebrero de 2008 por el Instituto deEstudios Fronterizos.

La desestabilización y el cam-bio de poder en los carteles de dro-gas han causado un aumento de laviolencia al comienzo del 2007.Gran parte de la violencia se con-centra en los estados de la costa delPacífico y también en los estadosfronterizos.

La violencia en Nogales,Sonora, dicen Villalobos y otros

comerciantes, está fuera del áreaturística, que es un grupo de tien-das y restaurantes después de pasarla frontera internacional.

Pero los turistas siguen sinvenir. Alvaro Hernández está para-do dentro de su tienda de recuerdosdonde ha trabajado durante los últi-mos 6 años.

Las ventas han disminuido con-siderablemente desde junio, dijoHernández.

Antes de junio la tienda, queacepta dólares y pesos pero que esmás frecuentada por ciudadanosestadounidenses, facturaba de $800a $1.500 al día. Ahora solamentefactura un promedio de $200.

El Sr. Hernández cita la crisiseconómica estadounidense comocausa de la pérdida del negocio.Menos ciudadanos estadounidens-es visitan su tienda.

En la misma calle, un poco másabajo, Jaime Olvera está parado enla acera, enfrente de la tienda decuriosidades Deco, animando a losviandantes a que entren a su tiendapara ver las baratijas que ofrece latienda.

Antes, la tienda facturaba de$800 a $1.000 al día.

Ahora, el promedio diario es$200, dice el Sr. Olvera.

El Sr. Villalobos se apoya en laencimera de vidrio de su tiendamientras unos pocos turistas esta-dounidenses curiosean por la tien-da.

“Regresen pronto”, diceVillalobos. “Y traigan a sus ami-gos”.

La economía, la violencia afecta el turismo Take a Shotat the FluThis Winter

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December 12 / 12 de diciembre 2008Page / Página 6 EL INDEPENDIENTE

compiled by the Los Angeles Times.In Sonora, there were 244 drug-related deaths during the same timeperiod.

Violence has increased as theMexican government’s efforts tocrack down on cartels, has causedfragmentation and power strugglesbetween the cartels, said David Shirk,director of the Trans-Border Instituteat the University of San Diego. Whileviolence used to be largely betweenand within the cartels, now govern-ment officials and ordinary Mexicansare being targeted.

“It’s not just amongst the cartels,it’s also increasingly spilled over toaffect ordinary Mexican citizens,either as bystanders or as targets ofother kinds of criminal activities,such as kidnappings,” Shirk said.“As the cartels have been brokendown into smaller, more fractional-ized, less predictable organizations,they’ve become more of a danger toordinary people.”

The U.S. Department of Stateissued a travel alert on Oct. 14 forU.S. citizens traveling to Mexico,warning of shootouts in public placessuch as shopping centers and specifi-cally cautioned against Route 15between Nogales and Hermosillo.

But news reports of shootouts inthe center of Nogales and the Nov. 2

death of Juan Manuel Pavón Félix,the chief of the Sonora state police,is making headlines on both sides ofthe border.

Drug violence in Mexico hasrisen in recent years as the Mexicangovernment began arresting and

extraditing cartel leaders, accordingto a Feb. 2008 report issued by theTrans-Border Institute. The destabi-lization and shift in power in drugcartels led to a surge of violence inearly 2007.

Much of the violence is focusedin Pacific Coast states as well as inborder states.

The violence in Nogales,

Villalobos and other Nogales mer-chants maintain, is outside the touristarea of Nogales, Son., a cluster ofshops and restaurants just past theinternational border office.

But tourists are still not coming.Alvaro Hernández stands just

inside the door of the souvenir shophe has worked at for the past sixyears. Business has declined signifi-cantly since June, he said.

Before June the store, whichaccepts both dollars and pesos but ismostly frequented by U.S. citizens,did anywhere from $800 to as muchas $1,500 in business per day. Now,on an average day they make just$200.

Hernández credits the slowdownin the U.S. economy for the loss ofbusiness. Fewer U.S. citizens arepassing by his store.

Down the street, Jaime Olverastands on the sidewalk outside theDeco curio shop, encouragingpassersby to stop in and take a lookat the trinkets the store offers.

Before, the store would bring inanywhere from $800 to $1,000 perday. Now, the average daily take isaround $200, Olvera said.

Villalobos leans on the glasscounter of his shop as a few U.S.tourists poke about the store.

“Come back soon,” Villalobossaid.

And bring your friends.”

out of the environment. Gray. Wrap gifts with recycledpaper or even better, newspapers!Heck, after reading this paper backto front, wrap a loved ones gift withEl Independiente.

They not only get your lovelygift, but an afternoon full of valu-able reading material.Blue. Don’t go to the malls forgifts. There are several otheroptions you may not be familiarwith.

Adopt something! An animal,an ocean, or even a family. Checkout Tucson’s many good second-hand stores. Silver. Try sending e-invitations ore-cards this year. Hop on that com-puter and send your holiday wishesthrough the web.

Not only is this saving the plan-et but it also saves you time! White. Instead of buying your sig-nificant other that very expensivenecklace or iPod they have been

wanting, throw on that big whitehat and start cooking. Making ahome cooked meal will not onlykeep the green in your wallet butalso forces you to buy grocerieslocally.

Also try baking various treatssuch as cookies, cakes or browniesfor all those extended family mem-bers. Black. Hop in the car and buy giftsfrom local shops. Online shoppingmay be popular but it isn’t beinggreen. Non-local companies do notcontribute any money to the localeconomy. Red. After all the festivities aredone, don’t forget to recycle.Recycling one ton of paper saves17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons ofwater, two barrels of oil, andenough energy to power the aver-age American home for fivemonths, according to EPA.

Remember these colors, butmost importantly remember to staygreen and make this holiday (andour planet) a little greener.

and procedures,” Hand said.To lend a helping hand with

these issues is Richard Vidaurriwho served with the SouthTucson Police Department from1983 to 1994. After leaving SouthTucson in 1994 he went on to workfor the Marana Police Departmentat one point serving as Chief ofPolice. While in Marana, Vidaurriled a team of officers and civilianswho worked through a process toachieve national accreditation forthe department.

“National accreditation meansthat your department has a higherstandard of quality and policies inplace,” Vidaurri said. An accredita-tion policy is not on the table forthe South Tucson PoliceDepartment currently because it iscostly and time consuming but it issomething we may consider in thefuture, Vidaurri said.

With his expertise in policy, thedepartment is leaning on Vidaurrito help craft and overall hall theirpolicy’s and procedures.

“Visdaurri is a great source andwill prove to be a valuable resourceto the department,” Serna said.

In addition to the hiring of Handand Visdaurri, Serna has enlistedthe help the law firm of Edwardsand Ginn P.C. which specializes inpolice issues and is on contractwith 16 other police departments inthe state,” Serna said.

While Hand has been backworking in South Tucson for sev-eral months now, he said that hedoesn’t want to spend the remain-der of his life with the depart-ment.

“Once we get all of these brushfires stomped out I think I willreturn to my tropical paradise,”Hand said.

Por Michael K. RichTraducido por Anders T.

Peterson

La ciudad vuelve a traer a ex-agentes para modificar las normaspoliciales

Wesley Hand se había acos-tumbrado a sentarse en la playa,bebiendo cerveza y mirando elatardecer cerca de su casa en lasIslas Vírgenes estadounidenses.

Era un lugar hermoso a la vistay placentero para vivir; según él,era un lugar en el que podríapasar el resto de su vida.

Sin embargo, su corazónpertenecía a otro lugar, arraigadoen una ciudad pequeña de 1,2 mil-las cuadradas, donde los índicesde criminalidad son el triple queen el paraíso tropical donde esta-ba viviendo.

El corazón de Hand moraba enla Ciudad del Sur de Tucsón.

Así que no fue una decisióndifícil para el ex agente policialde Tucsón Sur cuando recibió unallamada de Enrique Serna, un fun-cionario local, pidiéndole queregresara al cuerpo.

“Le dije que sí”, dijo Hand.Serna le pidió a Hand que

regresara a ayudarle a “limpiar”la jefatura después del desastrecausado por el escándalo en elque se vio involucrado el tenienteRichard García de la policía delSur de Tucsón, que fue despedi-do.

En mayo de 2008, agentes del

FBI y del IRS llevaron a cabo unaredada en la sede policial y seincautaron muchos documentosfinancieros y de otra índole asoci-ados con García, y relacionadoscon las alegaciones de que elagente policial del Sur de Tucsónrobó más de $300.000 durante unperiodo de varios años.

García, que había trabajado enla jefatura desde 1995 y habíaascendido de agente a sargento yluego a teniente, fue despedido unmes después.

La supuesta malversación defondos había estado ocurriendoen la jefatura desde principios del2002, cuando una reorganizaciónde ésta dejó un vacío administra-tivo.

“Yo diría que $300.000 es unnúmero bastante conservador”,dijo Serna.

Una investigación internadirigida por la ciudad descubrióque García tenía acceso al dineropor su buena reputación en lajefatura y falta de mecanismos decontrol en el seguimiento de prue-bas y la venta de automóvilesconfiscados.

Durante el tiempo que Garcíaestuvo empleado por la ciudad,los reglamentos sobre la venta deautos confiscados eran sencillos.Los autos se llevaban a un subas-tador local que los vendía yextendía un cheque a la jefatura.

Esos eran los cheques quesupuestamente García robaba dela jefatura.

Sin embargo, los agentes de lajefatura nunca mantuvieron un re-gistro del número de autos que sevendían o cuánto dinero recibían,así que ahora es difícil determinarcuánto dinero falta.

“Teníamos un agujero mayús-culo en la administración”, dijoSerna.

Durante su empleo, García nosólo tenía libre acceso a la ventade autos, sino que también podíair al cuarto de pruebas y retirarbienes y dinero en efectivo sinque le hicieran preguntas, dijoSharon Hayes-Martínez, jefa de laJefatura del Sur de Tucsón.

“No teníamos medidas deseguridad”, dijo Hayes-Martínez.

Para implementar un sistemade control en la jefatura, Sernacontrató a dos ex agentes poli-ciales de Tucsón Sur, designó aun agente en funciones para queocupara el puesto de asistente enjefe y estableció un equipo de lid-erazgo dentro de la jefatura.

“Con estos nuevos cargospodremos responsabilizar a laspersonas y cambiar nuestras nor-mas para prevenir futuros proble-mas”, dijo Hayes-Martínez.

Hand, que trabajó en laJefatura del Sur de Tucsón desde1972 hasta 1993, fue el primero alque Serna contrató. Después dehaber trabajado para las fuerzasde orden público en Texas porocho años había logrado un cargoen la fiscalía estadounidense enlas Islas Vírgenes.

Cuando Hand regresó a lajefatura, se le puso inmediata-mente a cargo de corregir la faltade medidas de control que Garcíahabía explotado. Hand entregó laadministración de trámitesfinancieros, tales como la ventade autos, al municipio.

“La jefatura nunca deberíahaber sido responsable de lagestión del dinero de la venta deesos autos”, dijo Hand.

La jefatura invirtió casi$12.000 en dotar al cuarto dondese guardan las pruebas de un sis-tema nuevo de seguimiento.

El sistema que Hand instaló enel cuarto de pruebas incluyecámaras de seguridad, un registroelectrónico que sigue de cercaquién está ingresando y sacandoartículos y una tarjeta de seguri-dad de acceso para que se sepaquién entra y sale del cuarto.

“Estos son algunos asuntosobvios que necesitaban atención”,dijo Hand.

Desde que se enfrentó a estosproblemas, Hand ha identificadootros asuntos que necesitan aten-ción en la jefatura.

“Tenemos agentes que trabajandemasiadas horas y necesitamosuna gran actualización de nues-tras normas y procedimientos”,dijo Hand.

Para ayudar con estos asuntosestá Richard Vidaurri, que trabajócon la Jefatura del Sur de Tucsónde 1983 a 1994. Después de dejarel Sur de Tucsón en 1994, se fue a

trabajar para la Jefatura deMarana, sirviendo como Jefe dePolicía ocasional.

Mientras estaba en Marana,Vidaurri dirigió un equipo deagentes y ciudadanos que tratabande lograr acreditación nacionalpara la jefatura.

“Una acreditación nacionalsignifica que la jefatura ha imple-mentado una norma más elevadade calidad y procedimientos”,dijo Vidaurri.

La Jefatura del Sur de Tucsónno dispone actualmente de unanorma de acreditación porque escostosa y requiere mucho tiempo,pero es algo que podríamos con-siderar en el futuro, dijo Vidaurri.

Por su gran conocimiento delos reglamentos, la jefatura confíaen que Vidaurri ayude a revisarsus normas y procedimientos.

“Vidaurri es un gran recurso yserá una gran ayuda para lajefatura”, dijo Serna. Además decontratar a Hand y Vidaurri,Serna ha solicitado ayuda delbufete jurídico de Edwards yGinn, P.C., que se especializa enasuntos policiales y tiene con-tratos con otras dieciséis jefaturasen el estado, según dijo Serna.

Aunque Hand ha estado traba-jando en el Sur de Tucsón Sur porvarios meses, dijo que no quierepasar el resto de su vida en lajefatura.

“Una vez se calme la tormentapienso regresar a mi paraíso trop-ical,” dijo Hand.

La ciudad propone limpiar la jefatura de policía

‘Police’ Continued from page 1

‘Mexico’ Continued from page 1

‘Green’ Continued from page 1

Tourism Dropping as Border Violence Rises

Cops Clean Up in South Tucson

Going Green this Holiday Season

By Jenny Mayer

For the first time in 30 years, thenativity scene at La Casa Cordovawill not be on display this holidayseason due to construction delays.

Maria Luisa Tena, creator of ElNacimiento, crafted the scene tohonor a tradition begun by her moth-er, who bought and displayedNacimentos during the holidays.

El Nacimiento presents scenestelling Christmas stories and settingsfrom Mexican folk life.

Tena has collected 800 figurinesfrom markets in Mexico over thepast 30 years.

“It’s not that we don’t want tohouse El Nacimiento, the construc-tion has gone later than anticipat-ed,” says Meredith Hayes, directorof public relations and marketingfor the Tucson Museum of Art.

“Actually we are making it better,the whole historic house, better fornext year and for the people.”

La Casa Cordova is under reno-vation to make the house moreaccessible for people with disabili-ties, upgrade the electricity andmake the scene more historicallyaccurate.

Hayes and Tena say their planon El Nacimiento being ready fordisplay again next year.

In place of El Nacimiento, theTucson Museum of Art is display-ing Follow the Star: Celebratingthe Nativity/La Estrella deNacimiento. It is a display of nativ-ities created by artists from Mexicoand Peru and can be viewed in thePalice Pavilion of Latin AmericanArt in the historic Stevens/DuffieldHouse, 140 N. Main Ave. untilMarch 22.

Nativity Scene Canceled

As the cartels have

been broken down

into smaller, more

fractionalized...

organizations,

they’ve become

more of a danger to

ordinary people .

–David ShirkTrans-border Institue

“

”

Page / Página 7December 12 / 12 de diciembre 2008 EL INDEPENDIENTE

By Colleen Keefe

Recent news of an official reces-sion hasn’t hampered the spirits orefforts of many young philanthro-pists in the community for thisholiday season. In fact, it mayeven have inspired them.

Across Tucson, students havebanded together to make the holi-days a bit more festive for peoplewho might be suffering this season.

Students at Mission ViewElementary partnered withhelpers from Pueblo High Schoolto create Thanksgiving placematsfor folks having meals at theSalvation Army.

Liz Murrieta Hoover, schoolcounselor at Mission View, saysshe strives to teach the youngstersmore than just the qualities andcharacteristics of a leader.

“They are the leaders of thefuture, and that part of takingleadership roles means also beingwilling to be able to see the wholeworld, not to just be isolated inyour classroom, your school, butbeing able to contribute to yourcommunity.

We have a big focus on theword ‘empathy,’ being able to putyourself in someone else’s shoes.”Hoover says. “We try to integratethat into our school community.”

Around the holiday seasonHoover uses books in her classesabout giving back to punctuate theschool’s philosophy of contribution.

“We had bigs and littles kind ofworking together,” Hoover smiles.

Hoover plans to work with otherclasses in the school to do projectsfor Christmas.

As usual, the general message tothe students will be to pay it forward.

“Economically, our students aregenerally on the receiving end. Wewant to be able to have that bal-ance, that while they are veryneedy themselves, that there isalways somebody else needier,”Hoover says.

They also are taught to showappreciation.

“When people sponsor ourschool, we always try to integratethat element of gratitude, whetherit’s a banner, a poster, a thank younote, we see it as a big, huge miss-ing piece in society now,” Hooverexplains.

First grader Estefanny Siqueirosseems to have mastered the lesson.She has thoughts of how the recip-ient of her placemat must have feltupon receiving her gift.

“I thought that they were reallyhappy to get better and they have anew friend like me,” says the six-year- old.

Also giving back is TucsonHigh School’s Steel Drum Band.They treated students and theirfamilies at Mary Meredith K-12, aschool for children with special

needs, to an afternoon of music andentertainment at the annual FamilyThanksgiving Luncheon.

Khris Dodge, director of thesteel drum band for the past 10years, says his kids were glad to beable to perform for the students.The group played in the openingceremonies of the Arizona SpecialOlympics last year.

According to Terri Polan, prin-cipal at Mary Meredith, the overallexperience was a success for boththe volunteer performers andrecipients.

“I think if you looked in someof the kids faces you could seethey were relaxed and gave upsome of their inhibitions.” Polansays. “The feedback I got waswonderful. It set the tone to go offto the Thanksgiving holiday on apositive note.”

Members from the youth andchildren’s ministry at AgapeChristian Community Churchhelped to feed families fromPrimavera and the homeless in theElvira Neighborhood onThanksgiving Day.

The Folklorico dance group atBooth-Fickett Magnet school col-lected snacks and sent cards ofappreciation for those serving inIraq.

Alexandra Barton, danceinstructor and sponsor for thedance group, received an emailfrom the sergeant listing the itemsthe troops wanted most, such asoreos, soda and peanut butter.

“[The list included] things thatwe take for granted. Things that wehave everyday, that they haven’thad for months,” says Barton. Thetroops received the treats and notes

the week before Thanksgiving.“I felt that it was good to con-

tribute to what they do becausethey do a lot of stuff for us and theydon’t get to see their families a lot,”says seventh grader and dancerChristine Kevichusa.

The Folklorico group plans todance at a nursing home sometimeduring the Christmas holiday.

For Thanksgiving, kids attend-ing the John Valenzuela YouthCenter collected food for CasaMaria, a Catholic charity that helpsto feed needy families, and CasaSan Juan, which tends to the needsof migrants.

The youth plan to do the samefor Christmas, but will also deliverlunch bags containing handwritteninspirational messages from thechildren who will distribute thefood closer to the holiday, saysJessica Alderete, youth programcoordinator.

“A lot of the kids also receivefood boxes, because their familiesare struggling.”

“They themselves are recipi-ents,” Alderete says.

“That’s what we are trying totell these kids, with the economythe way it is, even though westruggle, it doesn’t mean we can’tgive back.”

Approximately 40 childrenfrom the center will dance andwalk in the Downtown Parade ofLights to be held Dec. 13 at 6 p.m.

And if that’s not enough, thecenter’s Youth to Youth program,which promotes a drug and alco-hol-free lifestyle, will have a oneday lock-in as an alternative to apotentially risky time during thewinter break.

To participate or for more infor-mation, call the center at 792-9251.

There are many benefits in con-tributing to your community.

Six-year-old Bianay Kristal ofMission View Elementary says itsimply. “I felt jubilant,” shebeamed.

By Tess Martinez

When Antonio and Marta Franco opened LaEstrella bakery on Halloween in 1986, theprofits from their first day of business wereless than they and their four children hadhoped for.

At the end of the day they had made $32.But by New Year’s Eve, when they were

making and selling bolillos, a soft white rolleaten on New Year’s Day, word had spreadon the south side about the new bakery sofast that they knew their business would haveno trouble staying afloat.

“We sold something like $300 that day,”says Isabel Montaño, the eldest of the fourFranco children.

“That was a lot for us.”Looking back, she says it should have

been obvious that the first day of businesswould be disappointing.

“We’ve never used any advertising,”Erica Franco says. “We painted a sign saying‘now open.’ My uncle did that for us so thecars could see it as they drove by, but we hadno sign up over the store or anything, so thepeople driving by wouldn’t even know whatkind of business had opened.”

La Estrella, a traditional panaderia usingonly the Franco family’s secret recipes fortortillas, churros and other baked goods, is onthe corner of South 12th Avenue and WestNebraska Street.

Over 22 years of operation, they’ve spentalmost no money on advertising, insteaddepending on word of mouth to bring cus-tomers to the bakery.

The Franco family, who came to Tucsonfrom Jalisco, Mexico, learned the businessby running an uncle’s bakery, El RioPanaderia, for two years before opening La

Estrella. In those days, the couple made $100 per

week running the business almost single-handedly.

But their daughters remember how theirparents were somehow able to make itthrough those first few rough years.

“I remember we ate chicken soup, beans,rice and tortillas,” Montaño says. “That’swhat we survived with as kids. And occa-sionally we had sandwiches.”

The family lives in their home in BarrioHollywood. But Erica and Montaño say they

really grew up in La Estrella, where theyspent their childhood playing behind thecounter and chasing each other through thestore.

All four kids started working at the bak-ery at early ages.

“I was 11 and I was running the cash reg-ister,” Montaño says.

After school, they would sit by the frontcounter and do their homework.

After homework, they pitched in to helptheir parents by washing dishes, packing tor-tillas and helping whatever way they could.

“This was our home,” Franco says. “Whenwe opened here, every day we would be togeth-er. Basically, our whole lives were here.”

The family has long dreamed of expand-ing the business in an area closer to down-town Tucson.

They are finally getting that chance nextyear with Mercado de San Augustín, a newoutdoor market created as a part of the RioNuevo downtown redevelopment project.

The Mercado will be located downtownin the city center, and is scheduled to open inJune 2010.

But shoppers can get a preview of whatthe Mercado will have to offer at the HolidayBazaar, where vendors including La Estrellawill be from Dec. 12 to 24 in a big tent on thecorner of West Congress and Avenida delConvento.

The bazaar is open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9p.m. Friday through Sunday.

The sisters agree it’s a risky time to try toexpand because of the shaky economy, butthey both say the bakery has made it throughrough times and hope their presence in SanAugustín will increase revenue.

“I look at our annual statements fromyears ago,” Montaño says. “And I realizehow hard our parents worked to keep thefinancial stuff a secret from us kids because Isee how bad our annual losses for the yearwere.”

As when they opened their first bakery,they are confident that word of mouth will beenough to draw customers to their new venue.

“I don’t think we’re gonna be advertis-ing very much,” she says. “Maybe we’ll putan ad in the church flyer again for thistime.”

Members of Tucson High School’s Steel Drum Band volunteer their time to entertain students at Mary Meredith, a schoolfor kids with special needs.

Youth ‘Get it’ When it Comes to Giving

The Franco Family, here at their panaderia at 5266 S. 12th Ave, will be selling their pastries andtortillas at the new Mercado San Agustín when it opens next year.

South Side Panaderia Gets Ready to Expand

PHOTO BY COLLEEN KEEFE

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By Elena Cruz

Dec. 12Las PosadasProcessionLas Posada procession by CarrilloIntermediate Magnet Schoo, 440S. Main Ave, will have food andmusic beginning at 5:30 p.m. Theposada procession begins at 7:30.Children from Carrillo will re-enact the journey of Mary andJoseph looking for shelter onChristmas Eve. For more informa-tion call 225-1200.

Dec. 12-14Fourth Avenue WinterStreet FairCome and enjoy the cool weatherand arts and crafts at the semiannual Fourth Avenue Street Fair,an eclectic mix of art, food, andperformances. The three-day eventis free. For more information calls624-5004 or visit www.fourthav-enue.org.

Dec. 13Christmas CharacterCommunity Parade

Join the Christmas CharacterCommunity for a parade and toydrive at Reid Park. New,unwrapped toys or $5 donationswill be collected for Toys forTots. The parade begins at 3p.m. and will be followed bymusic, food and entertainment atRamada 14. For more informa-tion call 358-7991.

Dec. 13Downtown Parade of LightsThe 14th annual Parade of Lightsis back to bring Christmas cheer.Come and see lights, music andperformers take part in the parade.The parade begins at StoneAvenue and 17th Street and endsat Armory Park. The festivitiesbegin at 4 p.m. at Armory Parkand the parade starts at 6 p.m. Formore information call BrandiHagar at 547-3338 or go towww.downtowntucson.org/down-town_parade_of_lights.

Dec. 13Our Lady of GuadalupeCelebrationSt. Augustine Cathedral is holdinga celebration in honor of Our Ladyof Guadalupe at 10:30 a.m. Thecelebration includes food, enter-tainment, a procession, a mass anda re-enactment of Our Lady ofGuadalupe. For more informationcall 326-4744.

Dec. 13- Dec. 27Winterhaven Festivalof LightsThe 58th annual WinterhavenFestival of Lights is here again.Come and see houses in the neigh-borhood decorated for theChristmas season. This year hous-es will be using LED lights, which

use less energy. Visitors can drive,walk or take a horse carriage ridethrough the neighborhood. Thefestival is free but food donationswill be accepted and given to theTucson Community Food Bank.For more information call 881-4483 or visit www.winterhaven-festival.org.

Dec. 20Family Time at MOCACome join MOCA for a specialworkshop on how to incorporateart projects in daily family activi-ties. Local artists Natalie Nguyenand Denise Urethra will lead theworkshop for this month’s familytime at MOCA. The price is $5 forfamilies and free for MOCA fami-ly members. For more informationcall 624-5019.

Dec. 31First NightCome and enjoy a family friendlyNew Years’ Eve in DowntownTucson. First Night is a New Yearscelebration with arts and culture.Different venues including theTucson Convention Center andTucson Children’s Museum willhave free events. Other venueswill have paid entertainment. Thecost for adults is $12, $6 for chil-dren 6-12. Children 5 and underare free. The paid admission givesaccess to all of the participatingvenues. The event begins at 4 p.m.and ends at midnight with a grand

finale. For more information call547-3338 or go to www.down-towntucson.org/first_night.

Jan. 3Three Kings FestivalThe Tucson Children’s Museum ishaving a festival to celebrate thearrival of the Three Kings. Theevent will showcase the traditionsof the Three Kings celebrated inMexico and around the world. Thefestival is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Formore information call 792-9985.

Traducido por ernesto amaya

12 de Dic.Procesión Las PosadasLa procesión Las Posadas de laCarrillo Intermediate MagnetSchool, 440 S. Main Ave, ofrecerácomida y música a partir de las5:30 p.m. La procesión comienzaa las 7:30. Los niños de Carrillorepresentarán el viaje de María yJosé, que buscaron refugio en laNochebuena.Si desea más información llame al225-1200.

12-14 de Dic.Feria del Invierno de4th AvenueVenga y disfrute del tiempo frescoy las artesanías en la Feria delInvierno de Fourth Avenue, unamezcla ecléctica de arte, comida ypresentaciones. El evento, que dura

tres días, es gratuito. Si desea másinformación llame al 624-5004 ovisite www.fourthavenue.org.

13 de Dic.Desfile Comunitario dePersonajes de laNavidad Únase a la Comunidad dePersonajes Navideños para un des-file y colección benéfica dejuguetes en Reid Park. Se recogerán juguetes nuevos, queno estén envueltos, para Toys forTots. El desfile comienza a las 3 p.m. yhabrá música, comida y entreten-imiento en la Ramada 14 Si deseamás información llame al 358-7991.

13 de Dic.Desfile de luces en elcentro de la ciudadEl 14o Desfile de Luces está aquípara contribuir a la alegríanavideña. Venga y vea las luces, música yactores que participan en el des-file. El desfile comienza en StoneAvenue y 17th Street y terminaen Armory Park. Las festividadesempiezan a las 4 p.m. en ArmoryPark y el desfile comienza a las 6p.m. Si desea más información llame aBrandi Hagar al 547-3338 o vaya awww.downtowntucson.org/down-town_parade_of_lights.

13 de Dic.Celebración deNuestra Señora deGuadalupeLa Catedral de San Agustín ofre-cerá una celebración para honrar aNuestra Señora de Guadalupe a las10:30 a.m. La celebración incluyecomida, entretenimiento, una pro-cesión, una misa y una repre-sentación de Nuestra Señora deGuadalupe. Si desea más informa-ción llame al 326-4744.

13-27 de Dic.Festival de LucesWinterhavenEl 58o Festival de LucesWinterhaven está aquí otra vez.Venga a ver las casas del barrio queestán decoradas para la temporadanavideña. Este año las casas usarán lucesLED, que usan menos energía. Los visitantes pueden conducir,caminar, o dar una vuelta en uncoche de caballos por el barrio.El festival es gratuito, pero se acep-tarán donaciones de alimentos parael Tucson Community Food Bank.Si desea más información llame al881-4483 o vaya a www.winter-havenfestival.org.

20 de Dic.Hora Familiar en MOCAVenga y únase a MOCA para untaller especial sobre cómo incorporarproyectos artísticos a las actividadesfamiliares diarias.Las artistas locales Natalie Nguyen yDenise Urethra se encargarán deltaller para la hora familiar deMOCA este mes. El precio es de $5 para familias ygratuito para los familiares de losmiembros de MOCA. Si desea másinformación llame al 624-5019.

31 de Dic.Primera NocheVenga y disfrute de un treinta yuno de diciembre amigable y enfamilia en el centro de Tucsón. La Nochevieja es una celebracióndel Nuevo Año, con arte y cul-tura. Distintos lugares queincluyen el Tucson ConventionCenter y el Tucson Children´sMuseum ofrecerán eventos gratu-itos. Otros lugares ofreceránentretenimiento pagado. El costopara adultos es $12 y de $6 paraniños de 6 a 12. Los niñosmenores de 5 años no pagan. Laentrada de pago da acceso atodos los lugares participantes. El evento comienza a las 4 p.m. ytermina a medianoche con ungran final. Si desea más informa-ción llame al 547-3338 o visitewww.downtowntucson.org/first_night.

3 de Ene.Festival de los TresReyes MagosEl Tucson Children’s Museum ten-drá un festival para celebrar la lle-gada de los Reyes Magos.El evento mostrará la tradición delos Reyes Magos, como se celebraen México y por todo el mundo.El festival es de la 1 p.m. hasta las4 p.m. Si desea más informaciónllame al 792-9985.

Page / Página 8 December 12 / 12 de diciembre 2008EL INDEPENDIENTE

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Good Ol’ Saint Nick Drops inon Mission View StudentsMaria Pena's kindergarten class receives backbacks

and smiles at the 13th annual "A Visit from SaintNicholas." Saint Nick left the sleigh and reindeer at the NorthPole and opted to take a helicopter to visit the stu-dents who anxiously waited in line to see him.

Saint Nick Comes to Town

PHOTOS BY JENNY MAYER